Severe storms in southern France leave at least four dead
The death toll rose after new victims were reported in Bouches-du-Rhône.
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At least four people have died as a result of heavy rainfall and flooding in south-eastern France. One person is still missing in the Var, while several municipalities are dealing with power cuts.
According to Météo-France, the severe storms affected several departments on Monday and Tuesday, from Occitanie to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Corsica. The French weather service said the event involved a Mediterranean rain system with exceptionally intense showers, strong gusts and localised flooding.
In Bouches-du-Rhône, the prefecture reported three deaths on Wednesday evening. Two victims were found in Lançon-Provence; earlier, a 75-year-old man had died near Istres after being swept away by floodwater. The circumstances are being investigated.
One person also died in Corsica. In Ghisonaccia, a vehicle was swept away by the Fium’orbu river on Tuesday. One occupant managed to get out of the car, while a second person was later found dead, AFP reports.
A missing person was still being sought on Wednesday in Roquebrune-sur-Argens, in the Var department. The total number of victims could therefore still change. The French authorities have given no indication that any Dutch nationals are among the victims.
Météo-France recorded very high rainfall totals during the most severe part of the showers. Nearly 400 millimetres fell in the area around Solenzara in Corsica since the start of the event; in Saint-Chamas in Bouches-du-Rhône, 221 millimetres was recorded in 24 hours. In some places, the rain fell with extreme intensity over a short period.
The water led to road closures and flooded homes and neighbourhoods. According to the prefecture, there were power cuts in Saint-Martin-de-Crau and Arles; 250 people were accommodated in shelters in Saint-Martin-de-Crau. The situation in Bouches-du-Rhône had largely returned to normal by Wednesday, although further light showers were expected.
Météo-France describes it as an exceptionally intense Mediterranean weather event. The service does note that heavy Mediterranean rainfall episodes in France have become more intense since the 1960s and could increase further in a warmer climate.
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The key facts have been confirmed by Météo-France and an AFP report summarising information from the prefecture. The source base is limited but sufficient for a factual report on the current death toll and its consequences.
- confirmed The severe storms affected south-eastern France on Monday and Tuesday. — Météo-France describes the Mediterranean weather event on 19 and 20 October 2026. source
- confirmed At least four people died and one person is missing. — AFP reports a prefectural statement recording three deaths in Bouches-du-Rhône, one death in Corsica and one missing person in the Var. source
- confirmed Nearly 400 millimetres of rain fell in Solenzara and 221 millimetres fell in Saint-Chamas in 24 hours. — These measurements appear in Météo-France’s publication of 20 October. source
- confirmed In Saint-Martin-de-Crau, 250 people were accommodated and there were power cuts in Saint-Martin-de-Crau and Arles. — These consequences are attributed to information from the prefecture in the AFP report. source
- confirmed Heavy Mediterranean rainfall episodes have become more intense since the 1960s. — Météo-France reports an increase in the intensity of heavy Mediterranean rainfall over 1961–2025. source
Editor's note
The death toll and the missing person are based on prefectural reports as relayed by AFP. The precise circumstances and the final number of victims may still change.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „noodweer overstromingen”
- NOS — „noodweer overstromingen”
- Het Parool — „noodweer overstromingen”